People that know me well know that I love things that are both personalized and/or monogrammed. I remember a red jumper that I had as a young child that had my name on it (I think my cousin Mike had a matching pants outfit if I remember correctly)
As I got older, I was always so envious of all the kids in my class with their names on their LL Bean backpacks (for the record - I got a green delux LL Bean bag in 6th grade and we waited at the store in Freeport so my name could be put on it).
I was thrilled the day that I got my RED BARNSTABLE JACKET and my name was on the sleeve and I loved getting Christmas Ornaments every year from my Ma with my name on it.
When I worked at a kids camp I was always so thankful for the parents that sent their kids in with backpacks and lunchbags with their names on them. It made it so easy to quickly grab a child's things from the pile if they needed to leave or if two kids had the same thing.
However, in recent years (not so recent - I sometimes forget how old I am) personalization has been a hotly debated topic. Many say that it's not safe. That children tend to be more comfortable if they hear someone use their name and may be more likely to go with that person. That women become easier targets if they use their names on their license plates. And, that in general, it's not a good idea to advertise anyone's name out in public.
Now that we are getting ready to be parents this topic has once again reared it's ugly head. Of course, the baby is not going to be going off to school anytime soon (and when he does his backpack will have his monogram and not his name) BUT what about having his name put on little outfits or blankets? What is the general rule about infants and personalization? I did some "googling" and it appears the opinions are mixed. Babies are usually not without their caregiver and are not typically the victims of random abductions from malls and/or parks. But, there is an argument that things for a baby should not be personalized if they are going to be used and/or worn outside the home becuase it makes your child stand out and more susceptible to these types of random acts.
For me, I'm on the fence. I want to personalize things but I want him to be safe. I don't see the harm in a personalized blanket, burp cloth, or the occassional outfit. Am I nuts to think this way?
xoxo
Erin
16 hours ago
Hmm. I don't think there is a "rule,' but more personal preference. I really was never very uptight about it in terms of clothing; however, Chris and I rarely let our kiddos more than a foot away from us and never out of view. We are very uptight about this. I think having names on things would make it easier for someone who means harm, but let's face it, they could certainly stand back and hear you call the child by name if it were that important. I think you do what you feel comfortable. Good luck! There are a ton of cute personalized/monogramed items out there. Look at Kelly's Korner---personalized items and monograms are her thing, not to mention her blog is read by hundreds of thousands. ;)
ReplyDelete